3. _Moral Causes of Impotence._ A temporary impotence from certain emotions of the mind is by no means so rare an occurrence as may be supposed; and in times of superstition was generally attributed to the influence of some magical incantation; an opinion which was even maintained by _Zacchias_, _Teichmeyer_, and _Schurigio_, but which it is hardly necessary to add, has been reprobated by _Vogel_, _Cullen_, and all modern authorities. Where this occurs it is often productive of the greatest distress of mind, and has not unfrequently led the unfortunate sufferer to the commission of suicide. Mr. _Hunter_[327] has treated this subject with his accustomed sagacity, and relates a successful mode of treatment; he prevailed on a person in this situation to promise on his honour to pass six nights in bed with a young woman without attempting to have any connection with her, whatever might be his power or inclination; he afterwards assured _Mr. Hunter_ that his resolution had produced such a total alteration in the state of his mind, that the power of connection soon recurred, for instead of going to bed with the fear of inability, he went with fears that he should be possessed with so much desire, and so much power, as to become uneasy to him, which really happened; and having once broken the spell, his mind and powers went on together, and they never relapsed into their former state of imbecillity. Disgust is also a frequent cause of temporary impotence “Morositas, Contemptus, Iræ, Tristitia, Corporis immundities ac fætor, venerem primario supprimunt.”[328] The imagination[329] is sometimes the cause of temporary impotence, with regard to particular females, as exemplified in the famous case of the _Earl of Essex_ and _Lady Frances Howard_, in 1613, in which the marriage was declared void, because the Earl, on his own confession, was impotent with regard to his lady, (_erga hanc_) although he had no defect or impediment, and was able to copulate with other women. We have thus related the principal causes of Impotence in the sexes; it would be as idle to dwell upon the absurdity of the opinions which attach any weight to astral influence, as it would to refute the idea, that suggested the custom so universally observed by the Scythians, and which is even followed at this day by the natives of some of the South sea islands, of cutting the veins behind the ears, in order to render the males impotent, and the females sterile. 2. _STERILITY._ Sterility occurs more frequently in the female, than impotence does in the male sex. Its causes may be distinguished into those that arise from imperfect structure, and into those that entirely depend upon a morbid performance of certain functions. 1. _Organic Causes._